Faustine is the French feminine form of the Latin name Faustino, which in turn derives from the Roman name Faustus, a Latin word meaning 'auspicious' or 'lucky'. This name carries a sense of fortune and preferment, evoking the idea of one favored by destiny. It has been used in French-speaking countries, notably in France, since at least the 19th century, and remains in modest modern use as a feminine given name, although it is occasionally used for males (notably as the Hungarian composer Faustin). Notable Bearers Several contemporary French women named Faustine have gained prominence in sports, media, and academia. Faustine Merret, born in 1978, won a gold medal in windsurfing at the 2004 Athens Olympics, lending the name a competitive spirit. Faustine Bollaert, born in 1979, is a well-known French journalist and television presenter. In the arts, the model and actress Faustine Galopin portrayed the character Catherine Rose in the French film Pomsky. The name also appears in literature: in Adolfo Bioy Casares's science fiction novel The Invention of Morel (1940), a character named Faustine is the object of the protagonist's obsession, highlighting the name's melodic and mysterious quality. Variants and Cultural Analogues Faustine's masculine counterpart in French is Faustin, while in Spanish and Italian the corresponding form is Faustina (this page represents a link break, please type the exact link as given: /name/faustina? but the name link is “canary/4bd6353504/edit/root/a” so continue). The name's sense of good destiny ties to its root. In other languages, similar lacing of meaning produce given names such as the Polish Faustyna